Gas heater for printing presses



July 26, 1927. I 1,636,790.

F. X. SMITH GAS HEATER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Oct. 9, 1926 I u l I v 15 16 Z 11 I fi'azzazls'Xlizzz'ifi,

INVENTOR ATTORN EY WITNESS:

Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS X. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N.IY.'

GAS HEATER FOR PRINTING rnnssns.

Application filed October 9,1926. Serial No. 140,588.

This invention relates to improvements in gas heaters for printing presses.

The primary object of the invention, resides in a means for effectively drying printed sheets after being printed in a printing press by reflecting heat thereon produced by a novelty constructed gas burner device capable of generating a greater amount of heat in proportion to the gas consumed than heretofore used for this purpose and in which the flame prevented from direct contact with the printing sheets, thus reducing the fire hazard.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a gas heater device of the type mentioned which is adapted to be suspended from the ceiling of a room over the printing press in adjusted relation to the sheets to be dried whereby the intensity of the heat and the heat area may be regulatec A further object of the invention is to provide a portable gas burner device for drying ink on printed matter which device may be readily removed from one part of a shop to another as the occasion demands.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gas heater for printing presses which is simple in construction, easy to install and etficient for the purpose intended.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construc tion and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevational View of my improved gas burner.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral designates a metal reflector or housing the longitudinal side walls 11 of which are flared outward to provide a normally closed top 12 and a relatively wide open bottom 13. The side walls 11 are stepped in to provide a hot air pocket 14 at the top of the reflector.

Extending through one of the end walls of the reflector and supported at the other end wall is a burner tube 15 having a row of flame openings 16 on the underside thereof. An air mixer 17 is carried by the outwardly extending end of the burner tube and on which a control cock 18 ismounted, A nipple 19 extends from the cock and is adapted to be connected with a hose 20 leading from the gas supply. A relatively small tube 21 has one of its ends tapped in the nipple 19 while its other end passes through the air mixer 17, burner tube 15 and out of the same to dispose the treeend oi' the tubeadjacent the row of flame openings 16. The gasis always flowing through the tube 21 so that when lighted, the tube serves as a pilot light for the burner tube 15, the gas to which is controlled by the cock 18.

A wire gauze cylinder 22 encloses the burner tube 15 and is secured thereon in any suitable manner. The cylinder is larger in diameter than the burner tube and rests on the top of the tube so as to be disposed concentric with respect thereto. The bottom of the cylinder is spaced from the bottom of the burner tube so that gas escaping from the flame openings 16 will be trapped in the space between the walls of the cylinder and the burner tube, and when lighted, the flames of the burner do not project beyond the walls of the cylinder and therefore cannot come in contact with the walls of the reflector. a gauze cylinder, a glow appears the entire length ofthe cylinder and is capable of producing an intense heat which is reflected downward through the'open end of the reflector on to the sheets to be dried, by reason of the angularly disposed walls of the reflector.

For the purpose of adjustably suspending the device above the sheets to be dried, I provide a cleat 23 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the ceiling or rafters of a room. The cleat supports a pair of suitably spaced pulleys 2& over which a chain 25 passes, the freeends of the chain being removably secured to eyes or brackets 27 provided at the ends of the reflector. A balance weight 28 is suspended from the chain between the pulleys and which weight serves to hold the device in the adjusted position desired. The body of the weight is provided with a recess 29 which opens on to the top of the same and in which slugs may be placed should the device overba-lance the counterweight. It will therefore be appreciated that very little effort is necessary on the part of a person in effecting the adjustment of the device with respect to the By enclosing the burner tube in v printing press or with the sheets to be dried. If desired, the gas heating device may be removed from the suspension chain to another part of the shop, it being understood that a: number ofdifferent suspension chains could be provided in various locations where such a heating device may be found useful. By varying the adjustment of the device with respect'to the sheets to be dried, the heat area may be varied, also the degree of heat. However, the device may be adjusted relatively close to the sheets without fear of burning, as the screen cylinder traps any flame and only the heat produced by the glow within the cylinder is reflected out of the open end of the reflector.

What is claimed as new is A portable and adjustable gas heater device for printing presses comprising an elongated reflector having outwardly flared side walls a reduced hot air pocket provided in the top of said reflector and extending the major portion of the length thereof, a gas burner tube supported by the end walls of said reflector and disposed directly beneath said hot air pocket and having a row of flame openings along its underside, and a wire gauze cylinder supported from and enclosing said burner tube but spaced from said row of flame openings to trap the flame within. said cylinder when said burner tube is lighted to cause a glow along the length of said cylinder, the heat from which is trapped in said hot air pocket and reflected by the walls of said reflector.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

FRANCIS X. SMITH. 

